EU LAWMAKERS INSIST ON TURKISH RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 5 2006
A key committee of the European Parliament insisted late Monday
that recognition of the Armenian genocide must be a precondition
for Turkey’s membership in the European Union and urged Ankara to
normalize relations with Yerevan.
In a report adopted by 53 votes in favor to 6 against with 8
abstentions, the Committee on Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the EU
assembly’s earlier resolutions that described the 1915-1918 mass
killings and deportations of Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey as
genocide.
The committee condemned as “racist and xenophobic” a
government-connected group that rallied thousands of nationalist Turks
in France and Germany last spring to protest against a growing number
of European countries recognizing the genocide. It urged Ankara to
ban the group named after Talaat Pasha, one of the three top leaders
of Ottoman Turkey’s last government whom historians regard as the
main mastermind of the massacres.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected the EU
parliamentarians’ demands on Tuesday. “We announced this before. That
is, to expect us to change (our stance) is simply chasing a dream,”
state news agency Anatolian quoted Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as
saying, according to Reuters.
“Our decisiveness on the subject of the so-called Armenian genocide
is the same today as it was in the past. Nobody should expect us to
change this,” Erdogan said, adding the decisions taken by the European
Parliament are not binding.
“We are dismayed by efforts aiming to impose preconditions that are
far from objective on questions that require serious academic inquiry,”
the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a communique.
The Turkish government has rejected similar resolutions adopted by the
European Parliament in the past. The most recent of those resolutions,
passed in September 2005, said Turkish recognition of the genocide is a
“prerequisite for accession to the European Union.”
The latest report, which deplores Turkey’s lack of progress in
implementing reforms needed to join the EU, is due to be debated by
the full European Parliament later this year. It calls on Turkey to
drop its preconditions for opening the land border and establishing
diplomatic relations with Armenia.
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, a
Brussels-based lobbying group, welcomed the proposed resolution. “We
congratulate the rapporteur and the many members of Parliament
who reaffirmed the political line of the Parliament, which makes
the recognition of the Genocide a prerequisite for accession,” its
chairwoman, Hilda Tchoboian, said in a statement.
Still, Tchoboian disagreed with another provision of the report
that effectively endorses Ankara’s proposal to set up a commission
of Turkish and Armenian historians that would study the events of
1915-1918.
The proposal, made by Erdogan last year, was rejected by Armenia. In a
written response to the Turkish premier, President Robert Kocharian
said that this and other issues hampering a Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement should be tackled by the two governments, rather than
historians.

TURKEY MUST MEET EU DEMANDS OR RISK HALT OF TALKS: EU LAWMAKERS
Playfuls.com, Romania
Aug 5 2006
The European Union will put the brakes on accession talks with Turkey
if the bloc’s demands on faster reforms and normalization of ties
with Cyprus are not met, a key European lawmaker said Tuesday.
“We hope and expect that Turkey will do now what it failed to do
in the last two years,” said Camiel Eurlings, a Dutch conservative
member of the EU Parliament whose report on Turkey was adopted late
Monday by the assembly’s foreign affairs committee.
“Turkey must re-start reforms vigorously or otherwise risk a halt of
negotiations,” said Eurlings in remarks to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Eurlings’ report warns Turkey once again that current membership
talks with Turkey are “open-ended” and that Ankara’s entry into the
25-nation club is by no means guaranteed.
It says that as a condition for EU membership, Turkey must acknowledge
the genocide against Armenians in World War I.
It also slams Ankara on a deteriorating human rights record and
slow reforms.
“It is important that the reforms be given impetus from within the
country by the authorities themselves and are not merely the result
of pressure from outside Turkey,” EU lawmakers stressed.
Referring to growing public unease at the EU’s eastward expansion,
the report highlights that the bloc’s “capacity to absorb Turkey while
maintaining the momentum of integration is an important consideration.”
EU lawmakers in the past have never vetoed any accession bid.
However, the parliament’s biggest and most influential conservative
group favours a so-called “privileged partnership” with Turkey.
The report will be submmitted for vote to a plenary session of the
European Parliament at the end of September.
Parliamentarians’ concerns are also likely to be raised when
chief Turkish EU negotiator Ali Babacan meets with EU enlargement
commissioner Olli Rehn on Wednesday.
Rehn has warned of a “train crash” in Turkey’s EU negotiations when
he delivers a crucial progress report scheduled for October 24.
The EU last week told Turkey that its continued refusal to open
harbours and airports to ships and planes from EU member Cyprus could
cause a crisis in the talks.
The EU has often told Turkey that if it maintains the current ban on
Cyprus, Ankara’s EU membership negotiations regarding crucial single
market issues could be derailed.
Turkey began negotiations aimed at EU membership last year. Talks
are expected to take up to 15 years.

CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II WORK PROJECT’ TO DRAW 300 VOLUNTEERS
Construction and Maintenance News, Belarus
Aug 5 2006
As part of an ongoing partnership between Habitat for Humanity and
the Armenia Apostolic Church, a blitz build of homes for 24 families
in need kicks off next week in Armenia.
More than 300 volunteers are expected throughout the week, from
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians, to a Harvard
professor, to a former Miss Armenia. The build project will provide
37 homes for families in need in Armenia, symbolizing 36 worldwide
Dioceses, plus the Holy See. From Sept. 5-9, volunteers will completely
renovate one apartment building of 24 homes in Gavar, near Armenia’s
Lake Sevan. A further 13 homes are being built across the country.

EU URGES TURKEY TO FACE ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’
EUPolitix.com, Belgium
Aug 5 2006
Turkey must recognise the Armenian genocide as a precondition for EU
entry, senior MEPs have insisted.
In a vote on Monday evening, the European parliament’s foreign affairs
committee expressed regret that Turkey was not facing up to its past.
“The committee wants recognition of the Armenian genocide to be a
clear pre-condition for EU entry and this will now be put to the
plenary vote,” parliamentary rapporteur Camiel Eurling said on Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed in Turkey between 1915
and 1917 – but the Ankara government rejects the genocide claim.
The report sparked a huge discussion in the prominent parliamentary
committee – with over 300 amendments filed.
Some MEPs fear Eurling’s report is serving to ignite anti-Turkish
sentiment.
“As far as the European parliament is concerned, there are still many
unhealthy prejudices about Turkey, with Turcophobes willing to seize
upon any pretext to block the accession process,” UK Liberal Andrew
Duff said in a statement.
“I will be trying to strengthen the parliament’s appreciation of
Turkey’s potential contribution to the development of a common EU
foreign, security and defence policy.”
This sentiment was echoed by Green MEPs. “The report adopted by the
foreign affairs committee has once again raised the bar for Turkey,
as regards the progress it has to make towards EU accession in a
number of areas,” said a statement.
“If the demands on Turkey are made progressively tougher in every
annual report, it creates the impression in Turkey that the European
parliament is opposed to Turkey’s accession to the EU.”
Freedom of expression
The Eurling report calls on Turkey to speed up key democratic reforms.
“We have seen a clear slow down in reforms and that is regrettable,”
Eurling declared.
“Freedom of expression is a vital issue. We have welcomed Turkey’s
modernisation of the penal code – in particular the decision to
abolish the death penalty. But other articles of the code continue
to be abused by judges.”
The centre-right Dutch politician called on Ankara to remove or amend
articles that allowed judges to limit freedom of expression.
Cyprus
MEPs have also urged Turkey “to take concrete steps for the
normalization of bilateral relations” with Cyprus “as soon as
possible”.
In July last year Turkey signed up to the Ankara agreement – extending
customs union to the ten new EU member states including Cyprus.
But Eurling warned that the protocol has still not been implemented.
“It is important for the credibility of EU institutions that if Turkey
signed the Ankara protocol that it is also implemented,” he insisted.
“It must be implemented by the end of 2006 otherwise we fear serious
implications for the accession negotiations.”
MEPs will vote on the amended report in a Strasbourg plenary session
in three weeks time.
The European commission has reserved comment until the final vote
but a spokesman, on Tuesday, described the report as a “valuable
contribution”.

EP REPORT TOUGHENED AGAINST TURKEY
Hurriyet, Turkey
Aug 5 2006
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament (EP)
approved Turkey report late on Monday, which was prepared by Christian
Democrat MEP Camiel Eurlings. EP, in the report, reiterated its
call for recognition of so-called Armenian genocide prior to EU full
membership of Turkey.
The report claimed that Turkey committed genocide against Pontus
Greeks and Syrians besides Armenians.
Speaking to A.A, Eurlings said that the report is positive and urged
Turkey to take steps on the path to democratization.
Eurlings said that he welcomed the report in general.
Noting that the report strongly condemned PKK terrorism, Eurlings
said that PKK terrorism couldn?t be considered legitimate, adding
that the report shows that they will never tolerate terrorism.
The report will be voted in general session of EP in Strasbourg
between September 25th and 28th.

DARCHINYAN AND HUSSEIN IMPRESS IN SPARRING
Paul Upham Contributing Editor
SecondsOut
Aug 5 2006
Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan
By Paul Upham: IBF/IBO flyweight world champion Vic “Raging Bull”
Darchinyan and training partner Hussein Hussein engaged in an
impressive eight round sparring session on Tuesday morning at the
Team Fenech Gymnasium in Sydney.
“It’s always great sparring Hussy,” said Darchinyan 26-0 (21). “We
know each other so well and can work on our technique and stamina
without hurting each other.”
The two 30 year-old flyweights have being training alongside each other
since after the 2000 Olympic Games, where Darchinyan represented his
native Armenia.
“Sparring Vic is much different to the other sparring I get,” said
Hussein 29-3 (22). “He makes me work so much harder.”
Darchinyan faces 26 year-old Glenn Donaire 16-2-1 (9), a Filipino
based in Los Angeles, on October 7 in Las Vegas, USA at the Mandalay
Bay Events Center. It will be the main support bout to Diego Corrales
vs. Joel Casamayor III at lightweight on Showtime.
Hussein, who has previously challenged for the WBC flyweight world
title and WBC interim flyweight world title unsuccessfully, will
return to the ring on September 22 in Bankstown. He is then scheduled
to fight in Dubai in the first week of November.
“You have two of the best flyweights in the world working together
and it helps both of their careers,” said co-trainer Billy Hussein.
“Sitting here watching them spar is like a front row seat at a world
title fight.”

RA FM: MEETING WITH AR FM MAY NOT BE HELD
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Aug 5 2006
The Armenian party has not confirmed its participation at the RA and
AR FMs’ meeting on the Nagorno Karabakh talks.
RA FM Vardan Oskanyan stated there were the talks on the meeting,
however, the meeting may not be held, REGNUM Information Agency
reports. Answering a question if the Armenian party may refuse the
talks RA FM said the decision had not been made. While answering a
question “if the meeting is held what subject will be discussed by the
Ministers”, Vardan Oskanyan said: “There have been no new proposals,
a document suggested by the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs, including
the proposals voiced in Vienna June 22, is on the bargaining table”.
To note, AR FM stated the meeting might be held in London or Paris.

MUFTI HASSOUN DISCUSSES WITH ARMENIAN OFFICIALS BILATERAL TIES
A.Zeitoun / Zahra
SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Aug 5 2006
YEREVAN, (SANA) – Grand Mufti of the Republic in Syria Dr. Ahmed
Badr al-Din Hassoun and the accompanying delegation discussed with
President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Tigran
Torosyan the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways
of developing them.
Mr. Torosyan underlined the spiritual importance of Hassoun’s visit
to Armenia, asking him to convey great respect and sincere feelings
to President Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian people.
The Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II who attended the overnight
meeting thanked Dr. Hassoun for their visit, describing the visit to
the Armenian National Assembly as a great honor.
His Holiness handed Mufti Hassoun a letter from the Armenian friendly
people to President al-Assad and the Syrian people.
Dr. Hassoun, in turn, stressed Syria’s relentless seek to enhance
dialogue among religions.

ROMANIAN NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER VISIT TO ARMENIA POSTPONED
Author: À.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug 5 2006
September 6 Romanian National Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiuwill
arrive in Armenia on a 3-day visit, RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman,
Col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. As reported before,
Teodor Atanasiu’s visit was scheduled September 6-8.
During the visit the Romanian MOD head was to meet with RA President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Minister of
Defense Serge Sargsyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian.
–Boundary_(ID_X8egtkmJJYtMHcdeCV+L/w)- –

ARMENIA INTENDS TO OPEN CONSULATE IN BATUMI
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug 5 2006
YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. During a meeting with Prime Minister of
Ajaria Autonomous Republic Levan Varshalomidze, Armenian Ambassador to
Georgia Hrach Silvanyan said that Armenia intended to open a consulate
in Batumi.
“This issue is being considered in the RA Foreign Ministry at present
and soon will get its positive solution”, he said, according to the
RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department.
According to the press release, Varshalomidze informed that this year
35,000 Armenian tourists had visited Ajaria, at that it is expected
that by the end of September this number would reach 45,000 people.
He noted that in conditions of such flow of Armenia tourists the
issue of opening an Armenia consulate in Ajaria became a necessity.
Varshalamidze also mentioned the importance of attracting Armenian
entrepreneurs to the internal market of the country, taking into
consideration rich experience of Armenian business in the sphere of
production and processing of agricultural products.
During the meeting the sides spoke for the necessity of enlargement
and development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as
well as elaboration of new variants of mutually beneficial contacts. In
this connection Varshalomidze said that Armenia and Ajaria already
had active cooperation in the sphere of tourism.
He also said that the Mayor of Batumi would be given corresponding
instructions for organization of the work on surrounding an Armenian
church in Batumi by a fence and improving the territory around it.